Service-meter for telephone-exchanges.



' PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. P. R. McBERTY & E. B. CRAFT;

SERVICE METER FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 813,230. PATENTBD FEB. 20, 1906.

F. R. MQBERTY & E. B. CRAFT.

SERVICE METER FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No 813,230. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

F. R. MQBERTY & E. B. CRAFT.

SERVICE METER FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1905.

a sums-sum a.

raiding at Evanston, and EDWARD B. CRAFT,

when so moved serving to operate the catch UNITED sTA'rEs PATENT oFFroE.

FRAN K R. MoBERTY, OF EVANSTON, AND EDWARD B. ORAFT OF CHICAGO.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY. or omo'Aco.

.RLLINOIS, A (JORPORATON'OF ILLINOIS. I SERVICE-METER FOR TELEPHONE-EXCHANGES.

, Specificationpf Letters Patent.

Patentd Feb. 20,1906.

Application filed June 10, 1905. Serial No. 264,565-

lb all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK R. MCBERTY,

residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, citizens of the United States, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Service-Meters for Telephone- Exchanges, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

()ur invention relates to a service-111eterfor telephoneexchanges, and has for its object to provide an improved and simplified structure for recording calls forconnections which are actually established which will be proof against fraudulent manipulation.

The service-meter of our invention is of the type \gherein a subscriber in order to initiate a call isrrequired to operate a manual key or plunger, thereby bringing the device into operative relation to the telephone-line and completing a circuit for the line-signal at the central oilice and in addition surrendering to the central-office operator the com lete control of the instrument. In case t e desired connection is obtained the operator may at the proper time apply suitable current to the line to operate the registeringtrain and restore the device to normal condition; but if for any reason the connection cannot be obtained the operator may by the application of the proper current to the line restore the device to normal condition without effecting a registration.

Our invention contemplates a service-meter comprising a tilting lever whose movement is controlled by a suitableelectromagnet. A switch is employed for controlling the circuit connections of the elect-romagnet, together with a catch adapted to 100 the switch in its operated condition. A manual key or plunger is provided to be operated by the-subscriber in initiating a call, which\effects the closure and-locking of said switch, thereby connecting the magnet with the line and completing a circuit for the central-office signal. This act upon the part of the subscriber removes the service-meter from his control and vests the same in the centraloffice operator. A registering-train is arranged to be advanced by the said tilting lever when moved in one direction, the lever side elevation on line 3 3 of Fi s. 1, 2. Fig. 4

a polarized electromagnet a, the core whereof and release the switch. The lever is adapted when tilted in the opposite-direction to'move the catch in a similar manner and release the switch Without effecting a registration. The operator is provided with means for applying suitable current to the line to energize the said magnet-and effect the movement of the lever in either direction, as desired.

Our invention also contemplates an improved construction of the switch above referred to and mechanism associated therewith whereby after the switch has once been closed and locked subsequent improper manipulation thereofis rendered impossible. We preferably rovide a device for moving said switch until it is locked by said catch, said switch closing upon the withdrawal of the operating device.

After said device is wit drawn a uard is interposed between the switch and operating device, whereby a subscriber is prevented from fraudulently manipulating said svititoh after his desired. connection is obtained in order to prevent the operator from registering his call. We will describe our invention particularly by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Y Figure 1 is aview in front elevation of a service meterembodying our invention with the cover in place. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the cover in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional is a similar view on line 4 4 o Fig. 2. Figs 5-8 are detail views of the circuit-controlling mechanism of the service meter magnet, showing the same in alternative positlons; and Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit with which our improved service-meter may be advantageously employed. I The same characters of reference are used to designate the same arts wherever shown.

The service-meter sliown is provided with is secured to a supporting-post a, mounted upon a suitable base a. A centrally-pivoted ti ting armature a is supported by said-post in (position to be acted upon by said magnet. an swung in either direction, according to the polarity of the current flowing through said magnet. The arinature is adap ted when tilted in one direction to advance a registering-train Z) by means of,a pawl '12, securedto the armature; but when tilted in the oppo- Referring now to Fig. 9 we will describe a Sll BdIIZGOiJlOIi the armature does not eiiectthe telephone-exchange system equipped with a operation of the register. service-meter embodying our invention. The

A switch is provided for controllin the telephone-line extends in twolimbs 1 2 from circuit connections of magnet a and is adaptsubstation apparatus of well-known charac- 7 o ed to be moved through the agency of a plunter to a central office, where said limbs pass ger c, projecting through the cover of the through the armature and back contacts of service-meter, until closed and locked by a the usual cut-off relay m, limb 1 extending catch d. The catch is arranged to be un-- therefrom through the usual line-signal-con- 1o locked'by' the armature in either movement trolling magnet n to the free pole of a ground- 75 thereof, so that whetheror not a registration ed battery 0, while the other limb is open. is efiected the apparatus is returned to 'nor- The magnet of the service-meter is included mal condition upon the ener ization of magat the substation in a normally open ground net 11,, The catch is preferab iy carried on the branch 3 from limb 2 of the line controlled is end of an arm (1'', pivoted to said post a/ and by the switch-springs e e of the meter. 80

. 2 5 tampered with and improperly actuated, behave for convenience shown simply the poithe armature carries studs (2 6 upon either The telephone-line is provided with multiside of its pivotal center, adapted to enga e ple spring-jacks p p at the central office, each i and operate the arm d according to the ihaving long and short springs connected with motion of movement of the armature, a the limbs"1 .2 of the line, respectively, and a spring a normally holding said arm against test-ring forming the terminal of a conductor 85 said studs. 41, extending to earth through the winding of We preferably-provide mechanism in assosaid cut-off relay m. The operator is prociation with the switch 0 whereby after the vided with the usual plugs and plug-circuit same has been closed and locked it cannot be for making connection with the line. W's

)0 ing completely beyond the control of the s ubtion of the plug-circuit associated with the icriber until the catch has been. operated to answering plug. Link conductors 5 6 exrelease the switch. As the switch is moved tend from the tip and ring contacts of the by'the plunger or push-button c it is mainanswering -plug 1* through the contacts of tained open until locked by the catch and unswitch-keys g g to the poles of a grounded 5 til the push-button is withdrawn, whereupon batteryo the conductor 6 including a superhe switch is allowed to close-and a guard is visory relay 8, which controls a shunt around interposed between the springs and the tenasupervisory signal-lamp included in a consion member or operatingdevice g moved .ductor 7 extending from the free pole of hat- ;5 by the push-button in actuating the switch. tery 0 to the sleeve-contact of the plug 1". 100 After the interposition of said guard further The switch-keys q q control the application manipulation of the switch b the operating of positive and negative current from generadevice g I is prevented until the switch is retors G G", respectively, to the link conductor 7 leased. c 5 and to the limb 2 oi the line.

40 The switchc maycomprise a pair of swit h- The operation of the system is as follows: 105 springs adapted to be engaged and ov d A subscriber at station A in order to transinto contact with each other by an insulatmit a call'first removes his telephone-receiver 'ing-button h carried by an idler-spring h, as from its switch-hook and operates the plunger shown most clearly in Figs. 5-8. The idleror push-button c to close and lock the switch- 5. spring is adapted to be engaged and mov d springs e e. A circuit is thereby completed 1 io by the tension member or operatin device for the line-signalecontrolling magnet n, such to actuate the switch-springs an when o circuitextendin from the free pole ofbattery moved is engaged b said catch to maintain 0 over line con uctor 1, through magnet n, the switch-springs c osed. .(See Fig. 7.) An armature and back contact of cut-oil relay m,

insulating-spacerl is adapted to be engaged through the contacts closed by the telephone 1 1 by the operating member g and maintain the switch-hook to limb 2 of the line, branch consplings. so arated, Fig. 6, until the .idlerductor 3, winding of polarized magnet (1,

- spring his ocked and the'operating member switch-springs e e to earth. The control of g withdrawn, when said spring is moved by the subscriber over his meter is by the dethe tension of the outer switch-spring e to al pression of the push-button and the conse 12'; low said switch-springs e e to lie in contact. quent locking of the switch in its closed posi The guard g may comprise a spring-actuated tion delivered to the operator. The servicestop-finger pivoted to the post a with its meter magnet a is of course arranged to be free end normall resting upon a lip h car-. unresponsive to current from battery 0 in ried at the endo the idler-spring, said finger said circuit. The centraloliice operator I (se in s.

. being adapted upon the movement of said upon observing the display of the line-signal. spring into its locked position to fall into a inserts the answering-plug 7 into the springposition to revent the device 9 from engagjack p of the line and inquires of the sub-- ing the spring 71; or operating the spacer l. scriber at station A the number of the subscriber with whom he desires I connection.

ing conductors -7 4 and battery 0.

switch "9, thereb The insertion of the answering-plug roompletes a circuit for the cut-off relay, includ- After the establishment of the desired connection, and preferably after the disconnect signal is received. by the operatorthat is, when-the supervisory lamp controlled by relay 8 is illuminated upon the hanging up of the subscribers receiver at the termination of the conversa t onthe operator depresses the proper one of the switch-keys g g to apply currentof suitable direction to the line to energizethe magnet a of the servicemeter and tilt the armature a so as to operate the register and release the switch. Assuming the current required for the work to be current of positive polarity, the operator would actuate completing a circuit from the grounde generator G of positive current'by way of link conductor 5, tip of plug 1, short spring of jack p, limb 2 of-the telephone-line, branch conductor 3, through winding of magnet a, switch-springs e e to earth. The magnetwould thereupon tilt 'the armature in such a way as to advance the registering-train and operate the catch, thereby restoring the switch to normal condition. In case the desired connection could not be obtainedthe operator would actuate theswitch q, whereupon a similar circuit would be completed for. the generator. G of negative current, causing the magnet a to tilt its armature in the opposite direction to release the switch-springs without effecting a registration; I

While we have for convenience shown two batteries in the drawings, (marked 0 0,) it I -will be understood, of course, that in practice these may beone and the same battery. We claim Y 1. The combination with an eleotromag;

net, of a tilting armature therefor, a circuitfor said magnet, a switch controlling said circuit, a catch adapted to lock said switch in its actuated position, a registering-train ope erated in the movement o fthe armature in one direction, said catch being operated in such movement of the armature to release the switch, the armature being adapted when moved in the opposite direction to operate said catch and release the switch without effectingaregistration, and means for applying current inTI'i' circuit of said magnet to effect the movement of said armature in either direction.

2. In a service-meter, the combination witha tilting lever, of electromagnetic mechanism for moving said lever in either direction, a switch controlling the circuit connections of said mechanism, a catch adapted to lock said switch in its actuated position, and a registering-train operated in the movement of said lever in one direction, said lever being adapted 'in such movementto operate said catch to release the switch, said lever when moved in the opposite direction releasing said switch wi tlrout effecting a registration. 1

3. In a service-meter, the combination with an electromagnet, of a centrally-pivoted armature therefor, switch-springs controlling the circuit connections of said magnet, a pivoted arm, a catch carried thereby adapted to lock said switch-springs in their actuated position, and a registeringtrain operated by said armature when moved in one direction,

said armature when so moved operating said pivoted arm to withdraw the catch and release said switch-springs, said armature when moved in the opposite direction moving said a spring normally holding said pivoted arm' adjacent to said studs, a registering-train, a pawl carried by said armature adapted when said arniatureis tilted in one direction to operate said train, one of said studs in such movement of the armature moving said pivoted arm to withdraw the hook. thereof and release said switch springs, said armature .when tilted, in the opposite direction acting through the agency of the other stud to move said arm and release the switch springs with out affecting the registering-train.

5. In a service-meter, the, combination with an electromagnet, of an armature therefor, a registering-train controlled by said ar mature in its movement, a switch. controlling the circuit connections of said magnet, a catch, means for closingsaid switch and effecting the locking thereof by said catch, and means for preventin actuation of the switch after the same is closed and while locked, said armature being adapted when moved to operate said catch and release the switch.

6. In a service-meter, the combination with an electromagnet, of an armature there for, a registering-train controlled by said armature in its movement, a switchcontrolling the circuit connections of said magnet, a catch, a device for moving said switch until locked by said catch,said switch closing upon the withdrawal of said device, and a guard for preventing subsequent movemfi'rt of said switch by said device while the switch is locked, said armature being adapted when movedto operate said catch and release the switch; p I

7. In a service-meter, the combination with an electromagnet, of a tilting armature thGIGfOI,'t switch controlling the circuit con Ioo' 4 v the same is locked, and a registering-train operated by said armature When'moved in one direction, the armature when so moved operating the pivoted arm to release said switch, the armature when moved in the op posite' direction moving said arm to release the switch without effecting a registration.

8, In a service-meter, the combination with an electromagnet, of an armaturetherefor, a registering train controlled by said ar-.. mature in its movement, switch-s rings eon-. trolling the circuit connections 0 said magnet, a tension member adapted when operated to move said springs, a catch adapted to hold said member insuch position,'a device for operating said tension. member, aninsulating spacer adapted to be engaged by said/ device 'to hold said springs apart as the same are movedby' said tension member, said spacer upon the Withdrawal of said device moving to permit the springs to close, and, means for'prevent'ing subsequent actuation of said springs by said device while theswitch is locked, said armature being adapted when moved to operate said catch and release the switch-springs. i

9. In a service-meter, the combination Wlthfin electromagnet, of a tilting armature therefor, switch-springs controlling the cir- 5 cuit connections of said magnet, an idlerspring carrying an insulating-button adapted upon the. operation of said s ring to movesaid switch-springs, apivote arm, a catch carried there y adapted to locksaid idlerspring in its operated position, a device for moving said spring, an insulating s'pacer engaged by said device When-moved adapted to maintain said switch-springsa art, said spacer upon the withdrawal of t e device moving to permit said switchsprings to moved in one direction, said armature when. so moved operating the sald plvoted arm torelease the switch --spr1ngs, sald armature When-tilted inthe opposite directionmoving said arm to release thecatch'without operating the registering-train, as described.

In Witness whereof .We hereunto subscribe our names this 6th day of April, A. D. 1905.

FRANK R. MQBERTY. EDWARD B. CRAFT,

Witnesses: I I I i R. T. ALLOWAY,

F. P.'MOINTOSH. 

